Kaneland to host Murdock concert

Lee Murdock's annual Hometown Concert is moving this year! The concert will take place just down the road, in the new state-of-the-art auditorium at Kaneland High School, 47W326 Keslinger Road in Maple Park. Always the first Saturday of the new year, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3. Murdock will perform along with this year's featured guest, Mark Dvorak, a folk singer whose work follows closely in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie and The Weavers.

The Kaneland School District has always shown a strong support of arts in the community. Murdock was the featured performer at the grand opening event for the new art center at the annual Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival in 2006.

"This is a beautiful facility, both spacious and intimate, with an organic design that allows both large productions and soloists to share the magic of the live performance experience," said Murdock. "We were thrilled to learn that the district is encouraging the local community to participate in events at the Art Center."

Featured artist Mark Dvorak, a longtime teacher at Chicago's famous Old Town School of Folk Music, plays the banjo and guitar, and has performed in more than two dozen states coast to coast. Early in his career, Dvorak delved deeply into the work of the masters of traditional American music - Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, blues legends like Leadbelly and Brownie McGee, and even the work of Illinois poet laureate, Carl Sandburg. In 2006, Dvorak released his first CD of original music, "Every Step of the Way."

Murdock is known internationally as "North America's Great Lakes Balladeer," and also as a fluent instrumentalist on six- and 12-string guitar. In addition to the songs of Illinois history and maritime music, Murdock also has a strong affinity for Irish music and Illinois history, as well as blues, ragtime and a bit of classical guitar.

Audiences at the Hometown Concert can expect a round of impromptu jamming between Murdock and Dvorak in the second set. Each year, the concert opens with a short set by Lee and by the guest artist, followed by an intimate onstage "song swap" with both artists on stage for the second set.

Tickets for the annual Hometown Concert are $10 at the door. Advance reservations are not needed, but call (630) 557-2329 for directions or further information.

Since 1998, the Kaneland Community Unit District 302 has sponsored an annual Fine Arts Festival, bringing visual arts, poetry, theater, music and all disciplines of fine arts to the community. For no admission charge, teachers, students, and community members of all ages are invited to experience this event, which showcases visual artists and performing artists. "This year Lee's guest performer, Mark Dvorak, will return to the Fine Arts Festival at Kaneland on Sunday, April 19, to present his Spontaneous Folk Ensemble," said Maria Dripps-Paulson, Community Liaison for the festival. "This is an intergenerational jam session, where everyone will be welcome to bring a musical instrument or just come together to sing and listen."

For more information on the Kaneland Community Arts Festival, contact Maria Dripps-Paulson, Community Liaison for the festival, at (630) 365-5100, ext. 180 or maria.drippspaulson@kaneland.org.